Members of Surrey County Council’s local committee for Elmbridge decided last week to push ahead with plans to install variable message signs next to Hurst Park Primary School. During school hours, they will remind drivers to slow down but, outside of these times, they will either show that the road bends to the left or that there is a junction ahead, depending on which direction the driver is travelling. The council also intends to provide “SLOW” markings on red patches next to existing school signs, amber flashing lights as motorists approach the school, and high-level “keep left” signs. The move follows concerns raised by residents and parents of children who attend the school. Headteacher Kathy Barkway said: “This is great news. “Any measures to improve things are very well received by all of us at the school. I look forward to the improvements.” However, she admitted that she and her colleagues had wanted the speed limit around the school to be reduced to 20 mph. According to Surrey County Council, the A3050 is classed as a local distributor and, therefore, the appropriate speed limit is seen as 30 mph. Only residential roads off main routes or busy town shopping streets qualify for a reduction. “We would really like this to be a school safety zone but the council will not do that because of how the road is designated,” said Mrs Barkway. “That would be the ultimate and would mean that we could have a school crossing person but it cannot happen.” Her opinion was echoed by parent-governor Veronica Collins. “I am disappointed that the council will not consider a school zoning system, which we would have liked but we are very pleased that we have got some new signage,” she said. “Hopefully, that will make drivers more aware that the school is there, but I still think we could have more. “We know that it is a through road but we are not asking for the whole thing to have a 20 mph limit. “The school is situated on a blind bend and is very busy with the new Tesco store. Once people move into the flats next to Tesco, it will be even busier. “The criteria can be reviewed in light of new circumstances and that is what I feel should have been done.” Data collected by Surrey County Council shows that the new measures are being installed, despite the fact that drivers’ speeds on Hurst Road are already decreasing. In December, the county authority carried out speed checks of cars travelling in both directions at two lampposts on Hurst Road, having done a similar survey in April and June 2003. The results show that the average speed of motorists driving towards Kingston had fallen by 0.8mph at the first post and by 2mph at the second. For those driving towards Walton, the mean speeds had dropped by 2.2 mph and 1.7mph. At the same time, the average number of cars using the road on a weekday has increased by 2,596 vehicles. Chris Paisley, the county council’s local transport manager for Elmbridge, said safety of school children was his main concern. He said: “Although the speeds have come down, the reason I was suggesting these measures was that I hoped they might reduce vehicle speed even more at school times. “We cannot put in a 20 mph zone but we will repeat our traffic survey after everything has been put in place.”